EDITOR’S NOTE

Today is my last day as Editor of the Weekly Insights, as I step temporarily out of Sri Lanka’s shores to pursue further study. The “Weekly Insights” blog series was launched last year, and evolved from its earlier incarnation in 2016, the “Daily Brief.” My editorship of the Weekly Insights over the last several months has benefited enormously from readers’ support and feedback, including the suggestions to add a “Sri Lanka Commentary” section and the views of LKI researchers as our ‘Takes’ on foreign policy issues.

The Weekly Insights will be back in the capable hands of my colleague and new Editor, Adam Collins, after a brief time to develop a further improved format. I have greatly enjoyed and benefited from my time as the Editor of this series. I am grateful for the many messages of goodwill and suggestions, and I am immensely appreciative for the support I have received from LKI’s Executive Director, Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne, the writers, Malinda Meegoda and Barana Waidyatilake, and Communications Manager, Nuzaifa Hussain.

SRI LANKA COMMENTARY

“Modi used the occasion to call for a rules-based order—recalling previous views espoused by Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.”

The speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) called for a “common rules-based order” in the Indian Ocean, based on dialogue and ‘consent of all, not the power of the few.’ This echoed earlier statements by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Prime Minister Modi had an opportunity to present an updated vision of India’s foreign relations, based on strong engagement with countries having common interests, like Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan.

However, he largely restated a Cold War-era foreign policy by hedging broad views of India’s ties with China, Russia and the US.

LKI Take: Prime Minister Modi’s call for a regional rules-based order—based on dialogue and consent—is to be welcomed. India’s commentators on strategic issues will hopefully also uphold this approach; some have recently negated it and/or mistaken a draft code of conduct issued by a non-governmental organisation to be an initiative of the Sri Lankan government.

ASIA COMMENTARY

“Winning the non-permanent seat is not only a soft-power victory in itself, but also provides an invaluable opportunity for Indonesia to achieve its goals of peace and security … ”

Following Indonesia’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), Sian Troath argues that Indonesia could use its tenure to augment the country’s soft power and reputation as a consensus-builder, and to highlight regional issues relevant to Indonesia.

While it is unlikely that Indonesia will raise the issue of China’s conduct in the South China Sea, it could promote and lead discussion in the UNSC of (i) the Rohingya crisis and (ii) migrant workers’ rights.

Indonesia could particularly improve synergies between the UNSC and regional organisations; for example between the UNSC and ASEAN on migrant workers.

LKI Take: Sri Lanka was last a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 1961. The benefits of a UNSC seat are controversial, but Sri Lanka should consider how to develop its diplomatic capacity to (i) bid for, and (ii) effectively use such a seat, including to build its ‘brand’ as a neutral and peaceful centre of the Indian Ocean.

GLOBAL COMMENTARY

“[I]f given the right protections and support, refugees can be an asset—not a burden—for all countries involved”

Dany Bahar argues that refugees can contribute to a receiving state’s productivity, if they receive a basic set of rights, including to work, education, and healthcare.

Research shows that the economic benefits of migrant workers also apply to refugees; this is because refugees and natives have different skills, and this diversity facilitates local business, fosters trade and investment links, and diffuses knowledge.

Integrating refugees into the workforce may result in a limited number of people being worse-off in the short term (despite aggregate gains). However, that underscores the need for proper safety nets rather than to reject refugees.

LKI Take: Despite popular fears, Germany’s experience indicates it is unwise to assume that an influx of refugees leads to more crime. The number of criminal offences committed in Germany is at its lowest since 1992, despite accepting its peak number of asylum seekers in 2015.

*Written by Malinda Meegoda and Barana Waidyatilake and edited by Anishka De Zylva. The opinions expressed in these Weekly Insights are not the institutional views of LKI, and do not necessarily reflect the position of any other institution or individual with which the authors are affiliated.

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Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute

A think tank engaging in independent research of Sri Lanka’s international relations and strategic interests, to provide insights and recommendations that advance justice, peace, prosperity, and sustainability.